The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was March 12, 2010 and the [[Primary election dates in 2010|primary election day was June 8, 2010]].

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The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was March 12, 2010 and the [[Primary election dates in 2010|primary Election Day was June 8, 2010]].

In 2010, the candidates for state senate raised a total of $4,320,019 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were:<ref>[http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/state_candidates.phtml?s=NV&y=2010&f=S ''Follow the Money'': "Nevada Senate 2010 Campaign Contributions," accessed December 17, 2013]</ref>

In 2010, the candidates for state senate raised a total of $4,320,019 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were:<ref>[http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/state_candidates.phtml?s=NV&y=2010&f=S ''Follow the Money'': "Nevada Senate 2010 Campaign Contributions," accessed December 17, 2013]</ref>

Sessions

When the Nevada Constitution was adopted, its fourth article established when the Nevada State Legislature, of which the Senate is a part, was to be in session. However, Section 29 of Article 4, the section that dealt with legislative sessions, was repealed by vote of the people in the 1958 general election. The session dates for the Nevada Legislature are no longer limited by the Nevada Constitution.

Cost-benefit analyses

The Pew-MacArthur Results First Initiative released a report in July 2013 which indicated that cost-benefit analysis in policymaking led to more effective uses of public funds. Looking at data from 2008 through 2011, the study's authors found that some states were more likely to use cost-benefit analysis while others were facing challenges and lagging behind the rest of the nation. Among the challenges states faced were a lack of time, money and technical skills needed to conduct comprehensive cost-benefit analyses. Nevada was one of 11 states that made rare use of cost-benefit analyses in policy and budget processes.[11]

Ethics and transparency

Following the Money report

The U.S. Public Interest Research Group, a consumer-focused nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., released its annual report on state transparency websites in April 2014. The report, entitled "Following the Money," measured how transparent and accountable state websites are with regard to state government spending.[12] According to the report, Nevada received a grade of D- and a numerical score of 52, indicating that Nevada was "lagging" in terms of transparency regarding state spending.[12]

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the senate, then the Board of County Commissioners in the county representing the seat must decide on a replacement. The Board of County Commissioners must select a person from the same political party that last held the seat. No replacement is named if the vacancy happens before the next legislative session and a election for county officers is scheduled.[21]

Redistricting

The Legislature handles the redistricting process through a Legislative Operations and Elections Committee in each chamber. The Governor wields veto power, and the Legislature cannot overturn.

2010 census

Nevada received its local Census data on February 24, 2011. At a 35.1 percent rate of growth, Nevada was the fastest growing state in the Union from 2000 to 2010. The five most populous cities showed tremendous growth: Las Vegas grew by 22.0 percent, Henderson grew by 47.0 percent, Reno grew by 24.8 percent, North Las Vegas grew by 87.9 percent, and Sparks grew by 36.1 percent.[22]

Democrats controlled the Legislature, while the Governor at the time, Brian Sandoval, was a Republican. Hispanics and (to a lesser extent) Asians emerged as possible communities of interest that would merit their own districts. The Legislature failed to finish new maps, and a court-appointed panel of three 'special masters' took over. New maps were finalized on December 8, 2011, and no challenges were made.[23]

Senators

Salaries

As of 2013, members of the legislature are paid $146.29/day for a maximum of 60 days. Legislators inside the 50-mile Capitol area receive the federal rate for per diem while those outside the area receive the HUD single-room rate for each month of session for housing.[24]

The Nevada Constitution specifies that the 63 members of the state Legislature are to be paid for the first 60 days of each regular session, held every other year in odd-numbered years. The pay for the 21 Senators and 42 members of the Assembly is tied to pay increases provided to state employees.

Partisan composition

The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Nevada State Senate from 1992-2013.

Leadership

The Lieutenant Governor serves as the President of the Senate but only votes in the case of a tie. If the Lieutenant Governor is not present, the President Pro Tempore presides and has the power to make commission and committee appointments. The President Pro Tempore is elected to the position by the majority party. The other partisan Senate leadership positions, such as the Majority and Minority leaders, are elected by their respective party caucuses to head their parties in the chamber.[25][26]

History

Partisan balance 1992-2013

From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Nevada State Senate for the last six years while the Republicans were the majority for the first 16 years.

Across the country, there were 541 Democratic and 517 Republican state senates from 1992 to 2013.

Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.

SQLI and partisanship

The chart below depicts the partisanship of the Nevada state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. During the study, Nevada had one Democratic trifecta during 1992. The state's SQLI rankings were high for the majority of the study, finishing in the top-10 from 1996-1997 and from 2005-2006. However, Nevada's SQLI ranking declined from then on, finishing 46th in 2012. Both its highest and lowest rankings occurred when the government was divided between Democratic and Republican control.

Chart displaying the partisanship of the Nevada government from 1992-2013 and the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI).